Retirement Villages Show The Future Of Housing

Senior Trust Retirement Village Income Generator (STIG) provides secured lending to New Zealand's senior living and aged care sector by financing experienced operators.

Retirement villages are changing fast, and in the process, they are pointing the way forward how New Zealand could design its future communities.

John Jackson, Executive Director of Senior Trust Retirement Village Income Generator, says the shift is not only architectural but social. “There is a rising awareness that well-designed senior living communities can meet a much broader set of needs than shelter alone. They can foster connection, enable wellbeing, and reflect the kind of sustainable development that many Kiwis want to see in their wider neighbourhoods.”

Senior Trust Retirement Village Income Generator (STIG) provides secured lending to New Zealand’s senior living and aged care sector by financing experienced operators.

According to Jackson, senior living communities are not built around isolation but inclusion. “Developers are planning with connection in mind. You’re seeing shared green spaces, integrated healthcare access, and common areas that draw people out of their homes. That’s not accidental — it’s a direct response to how people want to live as they age.”

There are also practical benefits to consider. When an older person moves into a retirement village, they often free up a larger family home. This gradual flow of housing stock back into the market may help improve mobility in a tightly constrained system. Meanwhile, new village developments generate regional employment and economic activity, supporting jobs in construction, maintenance, healthcare, and hospitality.

Jackson says this is part of the appeal for investors. “We’re funding projects with the objective of delivering returns. However, they are also building the social infrastructure of tomorrow. That dual focus — financial and community benefit — is becoming more relevant to more people.”

The long-term success of these villages will depend on how well they balance independence with support. Many newer developments aim to embed care without making it feel institutional. Ramps, wide doorways, and single-level homes are standard, but the goal is discretion rather than visibility. Interiors emphasise warmth, light, and sensory comfort. Outdoor spaces are designed to promote movement and informal social encounters.

These details may appear aesthetic but are central to function. Design plays a quiet role in maintaining dignity and autonomy, especially as residents’ needs change over time. “We are seeing operators and architects work closely to ensure every element of a village serves a purpose,” Jackson says. “From a bench in the shade to the way footpaths are laid out, the attention is on enabling people to stay active, connected, and safe.”

Aged care and senior living are long-term infrastructure needs. Private investment, when aligned with robust oversight and quality assurance, helps address that demand without compromising public resources.

Jackson believes the path forward is one of collaboration. “Retirement villages are not a fringe development. They’re an integral part of the housing system, and their design can inform better living environments for everyone.”